Grandmother travels 2 400 km to see badminton

BEIJING - A 97-year-old grandmother has travelled 2 400 km by tricyle to watch the Chinese badminton team in action at the Beijing Olympics.

Xiao Xincui, affectionately known as old Xiao, sat in the back

while her grandson Liu Xianghui provided the pedal power on their

mammoth journey from Henan province in central China.

The epic trip took five weeks and they arrived to see women's

singles champion Zhang Ning play on Sunday.

 

"I'm very excited to be here," said Xiao.

 

Her grandson said he wanted to make the trip as a thank you to

Xiao for bringing him up after his father died when he was

young.

 

Their journey has caught the imagination of the Chinese media

and public and they now have tickets to see the 110m hurdles final

at the National Stadium where the whole of China will be willing

Liu Xiang to win another gold medal.

 

Nampa-AFP

 

The epic trip took five weeks and they arrived to see women's

singles champion Zhang Ning play on Sunday."I'm very excited to be

here," said Xiao.Her grandson said he wanted to make the trip as a

thank you to Xiao for bringing him up after his father died when he

was young.Their journey has caught the imagination of the Chinese

media and public and they now have tickets to see the 110m hurdles

final at the National Stadium where the whole of China will be

willing Liu Xiang to win another gold medal.Nampa-AFP

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